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Migrant stabs 3 in German town

Police have arrested an Afghan man over a triple stabbing in a southwestern German town. The local mayor happened to be passing by and apprehended the attacker after persuading him to put down the knife.

A 21-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker was taken into custody Friday after stabbing three people in Ravensburg's town center, according to a statement from police.

The victims — two Syrian asylum-seekers aged 19 and 20 and a 52-year-old German man — were taken to the hospital. One of them is reportedly in critical condition.

Authorities said the man is under investigation for attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.

However, a judge on Saturday sent the attacker to a psychiatric institution instead of remanding him in custody after an expert said the Afghan suffered from a severe psychiatric disorder and had received mental health treatment in the past.

Police had blocked off parts of the southwestern town for much of Friday afternoon as experts interviewed witnesses and examined the scene. Two of the victims were found at a bus stop near one of the city's main squares, while the third was about 50 meters (54 yards) away.